Further corona measures should end early on March 1st
Stand: 14.02.2023
Further corona measures should end on March 1st
The pandemic is losing its terror. From March 1st, most of the corona measures that are still in force will no longer apply. But isn’t it too late? And what do doctors think of the fact that their patients will no longer have to wear a mask in the future?
The signs have been pointing to relaxation for some time now when it comes to everyday government requirements to contain the corona pandemic. After the mask requirement on long-distance trains has been abolished, the next relaxations should come soon. The pandemic has lost its horror, says Health Minister Lauterbach.
WAccording to plans by the federal and state governments, further nationwide corona protection regulations are to expire prematurely on March 1st. On Tuesday, the health ministers agreed on an earlier end to the mask and test requirements for employees and residents in health and care facilities, which were actually set until April 7th. This was announced by the Federal Ministry of Health. For visits to doctor’s offices, clinics and nursing homes, however, masks should continue to apply.
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) said that the bottom line was that the infection situation had been stable for weeks. The hospitals could take good care of corona patients. It is still important to be careful when visiting medical facilities. Anyone who visits patients or residents and makes doctor’s appointments must continue to wear a mask. “The protection of vulnerable groups should be worth it to us.” Lauterbach emphasized: “The pandemic is not over yet. But the pandemic has lost its terror. The virus is manageable in everyday life. And we draw conclusions from that.”
Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann reacted to the lifting of further corona protection measures announced for March with satisfaction and a work order. The FDP politician said on Tuesday in Berlin: “The corona measures massively interfered with people’s everyday life and fundamental rights. It was therefore clear that these measures had to end as quickly as the pandemic situation allowed. ”Now we are taking the next step. He is glad that everyday life in Germany is again almost free of restrictions.
“I continue to encourage us to critically review whether the few remaining regulations can be lifted before they actually expire in early April,” he added. Buschmann emphasized that the pandemic with its restrictions was an exception, “freedom is the rule”.
In preparation for a potentially more critical pandemic situation this winter, several nationwide corona regulations were laid down in the Infection Protection Act. Most recently, the mask requirement on long-distance trains and long-distance buses was prematurely suspended at the beginning of February. According to the corresponding regulations of the federal states, there are no longer any mask requirements in local transport either. Gradually, the federal states had also phased out the obligation to isolate people infected with the corona virus.
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